Paediatric clinicians' experiences of parental online health information seeking: A qualitative study

The aim of this research was to explore clinicians' experiences of parents' online health information seeking (OHIS) behaviour about selective dorsal rhizotomy for the management of cerebral palsy.

Using qualitative methodology, clinicians likely to have had experience with parents requesting selective dorsal rhizotomy were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Interviews with 13 clinicians were recorded, transcribed and inductive content analysis was used to identify, code and organise the data into themes.

Participants highlighted how parental OHIS was changing clinical communication. Negative effects included a shift in clinicians' attention from giving advice and guidance to spending time discussing online findings, justifying how this information applies to a particular child and managing parents' judgments about clinical views. Positive effects included more collaboration and sharing of ideas. These results are presented in three main themes: (i) the informed parent; (ii) the clinicians' role; and (iii) a new clinical dynamic.

This research reinforces the notion that OHIS is changing the communication dynamic and clinicians' and parents' roles within the clinical encounter. Of significance was the number of challenges clinicians are facing as a result of online information, including managing parental understanding of non-evidenced information and responding to negative feedback about their practice. This research suggests a need for educational support and ongoing professional development for clinicians to assist them to adjust to new goals and expectations of clinical interactions with 'informed' parents.